Capsule Review: Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones

(7/10) In a previous post I said this film wasn’t worth reviewing. In some sense, this is true, as the Paranormal Activity series has an undeniable formula that they do not deviate from one iota. It is the supernatural slash ghostly equivalent of the SAW franchise, replete with nearly identical call-backs to previous installments of the series despite seemingly unrelated new characters occupying the film’s faux home video footage and, ahem, paranormal activities.

The smartest aspect of this latest installment is that the characters feel like people you could enjoy following through just about any genre. Star Andrew Jacobs is charismatic and cinema appropriate good looking; though obviously a very young adult, Jacobs exudes the kind of raw, natural on-screen presence that would make him fit multiple genres.

The sequel also steeps itself in Latino culture, with many scenes consisting of mostly non-subtitled Spanish dialogue, though the film reminds us these are definitely American kids. They aren’t the white bread bland Americans of the previous installments and that’s what makes this movie a reputable sequel rather than a tired retread of the bland, interchangeable characters from the first four ‘Activity’ films.

All in all, you get exactly what you pay for with this series, even if the setting is a bit fresh and the characters far more interesting (relatively speaking) than any prior incarnations.